School Record Single-Game Rushing Yards by a Quarterback (241 at KSU, 2010)

Quarterback Taylor Martinez completed one of the most prolific careers in Nebraska football history in 2013. Martinez’s senior season was limited to just four games because of a foot injury, but he left the program as the holder of numerous school records.

Martinez started the first three games of 2013, including starting Nebraska’s season opener for the fourth consecutive season. However, foot and shoulder injuries sidelined him for three straight games, before he returned for Nebraska’s game at Minnesota. While Martinez played the entire game against the Gophers, he did not play in the final six games of the season.

The injury-plagued season stopped Martinez’s pursuit of several elite statistical milestones. However, Martinez had already cemented his place in the Nebraska record books before his injury. Martinez is Nebraska’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense and holds more than 20 school records. Martinez was in position to become just the second quarterback in FBS history to pass for 9,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards prior to his injury.

Martinez came into the season as a front-runner for conference and national honors after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He has started a Nebraska quarterback record 43 games in his Husker career.

The California native is among a group of 19 Husker seniors participating in the bowl game as a graduate. Martinez picked up his degree in ethnic studies in December.

2013 (Senior) Martinez started four games at quarterback, including the season’s first three games and at Minnesota. He missed three games at mid-season and the final five regular-season games with a foot injury.

In his limited work, Martinez threw for 667 yards and 10 touchdowns, while completing 62.7 percent of his passes. He also ran for 117 yards on the season. Martinez threw for three touchdown passes in each of the first three games of the season, and added his 10th TD pass of the year at Minnesota.

2012 (Junior) Martinez’s play helped Nebraska field one of the nation’s top offenses in 2012. The Huskers led the Big Ten and ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense at 253.4 yards per game, while also leading the Big Ten in total offense at 460.8 yards per game. Nebraska racked up more than 430 yards of total offense in 12 of 14 games, while rushing for at least 200 yards 12 times.

Martinez averaged 277.9 yards of total offense per game to lead the Big Ten and rank 33rd nationally. In the passing game, Martinez’s 141.59 efficiency rating also led the Big Ten, and his 23 touchdown passes were second in the league. He ranked 10th in the conference in rushing yards per game, and had a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. Martinez also had four runs of 50 yards or more on the year.

Martinez had four games with 200 or more passing yards, including three games with 300-plus yards. He also topped the 100-yard rushing barrier five times, including a 200-yard day at Michigan State.

In the season opener, Martinez flashed his improved passing skills with a career day against Southern Miss. He completed 26-of-34 passes for a career-high 354 yards and tied his career-high with five touchdown passes. The five touchdown passes tied for the second-most in NU history and his 354 passing yards ranked ninth on the NU single-game list.

Martinez totaled 291 yards of total offense at UCLA, including a career-long 92-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The run was the longest by a Nebraska player in 11 seasons and the fifth-longest run in school history. A week later against Arkansas State, Martinez set a school record for completion percentage in a game with a minimum of 10 pass attempts by going 13-of-14 (92.9 percent). His NCAA efficiency rating of 248.0, was the best by a Husker in eight season and the fifth best in school history.

Martinez led Nebraska to 35 points in the first quarter in a 73-7 rout of Idaho State, including two touchdown passes. In the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, he led Nebraska back from a pair of 17-point deficits for a 30-27 win, tying for the second-largest comeback in school history. Martinez passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the game, while rushing 13 times for 107 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Martinez accounted for 254 yards of total offense and ran for two touchdowns in Nebraska’s loss at Ohio State, before guiding NU to a perfect 6-0 record in the second half of the regular season.

At Northwestern, Martinez passed for 342 yards and led NU on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to overcome a 12-point deficit in a 29-28 victory. Martinez had a hand in all 156 yards (140 pass, 16 rushing) on the final two drives. The comeback matched the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history. Martinez tallied 407 yards of total offense, the second-highest total of his career and the eighth-best mark in school history.

Martinez accounted for 224 yards of total offense in an efficient effort in a key Legends Division win over Michigan in Lincoln. A week later, he produced another dynamic peformance in leading a dramatic win at Michigan State.

Against one of the nation’s top run defenses, Martinez shredded the Spartans for 205 rushing yards, including touchdown runs of 71 and 35 yards, in addition to a 59-yard run to set up another touchdown. Martinez’s 200-yard rushing game was the second of his career and just the fourth ever by a Nebraska quarterback. Martinez also passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns including a game-winning five-yarder to Jamal Turner with six seconds remaining to rally NU from a 10-point deficit for a 28-24 win. Martinez passed for 108 yards in the fourth quarter alone.

Martinez guided yet another second-half comeback against Penn State, rallying NU from a 20-6 deficit for a 32-23 win. In the game, he rushed 15 times for 104 yards, while completing 12-of-20 passes for 171 yards. Against Minnesota, Martinez connected on 21-of-29 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-14 win. The 308 passing yards allowed Martinez to establish a new Nebraska career passing record, surpassing the previous mark of 5,850 yards by Zac Taylor.

On a frigid wind-blown day at Iowa, Martinez completed 8-of-14 passes and guided NU to a division-clinching win over the Hawkeyes. Martinez ran for 140 yards on 19 carries in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin, including a spectacular 76-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The run was Martinez’s fourth of the season of at least 50 yards and gave him nine career runs of 50 yards or more. Martinez also completed 17-of-33 passes for 184 yards in the game.

Martinez capped his season by throwing for 204 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. He also tied his career high with 20 carries for 46 yards on the ground, moving him past the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the year.

2011 (Sophomore)Martinez was in the starting lineup for all 13 games at quarterback and guided the Nebraska offense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing. He accounted for 2,963 yards of total offense which ranks as the third-highest total in school history, and his 227.9 yards of total offense per game ranked sixth in the Big Ten.

In the passing game, Martinez threw for 2,089 yards for the sixth-highest single-season passing total in Nebraska history. His 874 rushing yards were the ninth-best single season in school history and his 67.2 rushing yards per game was ninth in the Big Ten and 10th nationally among quarterbacks.

Martinez shined in the opener against Chattanooga, accounting for 251 yards of total offense, including 135 rushing yards and rushing scores of 7, 43 and 47 yards. The game marked the fifth time in his career Martinez ran for at least three touchdowns. Martinez accounted for 385 yards of total offense against Fresno State, the second-highest total of his career and eighth on the NU single-game chart. His 219 passing yards was the second-best total of his career and he ran 15 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The game marked just the second 200+ passing, 100+ rushing effort in school history, with Martinez accounting for both of those efforts.

Martinez guided the offense to 51 points, 464 total yards and 309 rushing yards against Washington. He carried 17 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, while passing for for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Martinez closed non-conference play by passing for 157 yards at Wyoming.

Martinez had a career-high 20 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin, and also threw for 176 yards, but did throw a career-high three interceptions. He rebounded with one of the best efforts of his career in a 34-27 comeback win over Ohio State. Martinez completed 16-of-22 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 17 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. All three of the touchdowns he accounted for came in the second half as Nebraska rallied from a three-touchdown deficit for the win. Martinez earned Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors for his effort in leading the NU offense.

Martinzed accounted for 214 yards of total offense in an easy victory at Minnesota, then guided an efficient Nebraska attack in a 24-3 victory over ninth-ranked Michigan State in Lincoln. Martinez enjoyed his best passing game of the season in a losing effort against Northwestern. He completed 28-of-37 passes for a season-high 289 yards and two touchdowns, tying or setting season bests in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns. Martinez completed 12 consecutive passes at one point, three off the school record, and he also rushed 12 times for 53 yards.

Martinez guided the Huskers to a win at 12th-ranked Penn State by accounting for 199 yards of total offense against one of the nation's top defenses. He led Nebraska in rushing at Michigan with 49 yards, then guided NU to a victory over Iowa in the regular-season finale in Lincln. Despite injuring an ankle early in the contest, Martinez threw for 163 yards and a touchdown to lead NU to a 20-7 win. In the Capital One Bowl against South Carolina, Martinez threw for his 13th touchdown of the season in the first quarter, and rushed for 37 yards in the loss.

2010 (Redshirt Freshman) Martinez started 12 of 14 games at quarterback and threatened numerous Nebraska freshman and quarterback records. His play earned Martinez Big 12 Offensive Newcomer-of-the-Year honors, and he was an honorable-mention all-league choice.

Martinez became the first-ever NU freshman to start a season opener at quarterback, and immediately showed his ability against Western Kentucky. He rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries, including a 46-yard TD on his first carry. His 127 yards represented the first 100-yard rushing day by a Husker QB since 2003, and his three TDs were the most by a NU freshman in a season opener. He also passed for 136 yards for 263 yards of total offense.

Martinez had 263 yards of total offense against Idaho, including 157 rushing yards, the highest for an NU freshman since 1996. He added touchdown runs of 67 and 20 yards against the Vandals. Martinez burst onto the national scene at Washington, earning Big 12 and national freshman-of-the-week honors after leading Nebraska to a 56-21 win. He accounted for 287 yards of total offense, the most ever by a Husker rookie QB, completing 7-of-11 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the third straight game, going for 137 yards and three scores on 19 carries, scoring on runs of 80, 1 and 1 yards. His 80-yard run on the first play of the second half was the longest ever by a Husker freshman.

Martinez totaled 215 yards of total offense against South Dakota State, then made another national statement in a Thursday night win at Kansas State. Martinez guided a Nebraska offense that set a school record by averaging 11.288 yards per play (587 yards on 52 snaps) in a 48-13 win. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the Rivals. com National Freshman of the Week for the second time for his performance.

Martinez broke Nebraska records for total offense by a freshman (369 yards, previous record 294 by Calvin Jones at Kansas in 1991) and rushing yards by a quarterback (241 yards, previous record was 234 by Jammal Lord vs. Texas in 2002) in the win. His 241 rushing yards were the ninth-best total in school history and the most by any Husker since 1991. He also ran for four scores, including another 80-yard touchdown. Martinez completed 5-of-7 passes for 128 yards, including a 79-yard pass to Kyler Reed, the longest pass play by a Husker since 2002 and the ninth-longest pass play in school history.

Martinez made a mark in the record books as a passer at Oklahoma State. In a 51-41 win, he threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns, and became the first player in NU history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. He was named National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Foundation and Big 12 Freshman of the Week for his effort. His 435 yards of total offense ranked third on the NU single-game chart, and he set career highs in passing yards (323) and touchdowns (5), while setting Husker freshman marks in all both categories along with freshman records in attempts (35) and completions (23).

Martinez guided Nebraska to 24 first-half points in a 31-17 win over Missouri before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for the second half. He completed 6-of-9 passes for 115 yards and a 40-yard touchdown to Kyler Reed, helping NU total 256 yards of offense in the opening quarter.

Martinez lined up for one play at receiver in a win at Iowa State, then returned to the lineup at quarterback and accounted for 238 yards of offense in a 20-3 win over Kansas. At Texas A&M, Martinez completed 11-of-17 passes for 107 yards. He also rushed 11 times for 17 yards, but was again sidelined by injury, and did not play against Colorado.

He passed for 143 yards in NUs Big 12 Championship Game loss to Oklahoma, then threw for 53 yards and his 10th touchdown in the Holiday Bowl against Washington.

2009 (Redshirt) Martinez redshirted in his first season in the program and worked on the scout team.

Before Nebraska (Centennial HS) Martinez was a dual-threat quarterback for Coach Matt Logan at Corona's Centennial High School as a senior. Martinez passed for better than 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, and completed 61 percent of his passes. On the ground, Martinez added 750 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. His play helped Centennial to a perfect 15-0 season and a state championship, capped by a victory over De La Salle High, when Martinez threw for 243 yards.

Centennial finished No. 2 nationally in the USA Today's final prep rankings. Martinez was named the Big VIII League's Most Valuable Player and also earned the Los Angeles Times' Glen Davis Player-of-the-Year Award. A first-team all-state selection, Martinez was the Inland Division Offensive Player of the Year, the Max Preps California Player of the Year and the Golden States Prep Southern California Offensive Player of the Year.

Martinez spent only one season at Centennial High School. As a junior, he quarterbacked San Bernadino Cajon High School and accounted for about 1,500 yards of total offense. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at Norco High, where he primarily played in the secondary. Martinez only visited Nebraska.

Personal Taylor is the son of Casey and Epifania Martinez and was born on Sept. 15, 1990. He is majoring in sociology. Martinez has been active in NU’s community outreach efforts, volunteering his time with several local hospital and hospice visits, St. Elizabeth’s Burn Center and the Dimensions Early Education Program.